I’m heading to Austin this weekend to run the half and was planning to stay only a few days. Another debate popped up and it looks like I will now be staying for a while. It will be there from friday-friday and I really need to be able to get some workouts in. I’ve searched the forums and haven’t been able to find much.
Do you know where I can swim and/or rent a decent road bike?
Also, who will be running the Marathon or Half this weekend? - good luck to ya!
You can try these stores:
http://bicyclesportshop.com/index.cfm
http://waterloocycles.com/
http://universitycyclery.com/04rental.html
Or, you might be able to get someone from craigslist to rent it to you.
Good luck on the half.
Wow thanks!
I’m running the Half.
Bicycle Sports Shop definitely rents. I have a friend that has done it before.
Hey Joe.
Are you local? Have you run the course? Do you have any insights/recon?
I am a local and running the full. There are a lot of elevation changes. The first three miles are a steady climb, the back down hill to mile 6. After that be ready for rolling hills starting after mile 9 and a solid up hill in between mile 11 & 12 after you pass over the Lamar bridge (for the half). The RD is going to give a course overview at the expo on Sat. from 11 to 11:45.
As for swimming, if you bring your wetsuit Barton Springs is a great place to hit. It is a 400m outdoor spring fed pool. Great for training just a little cold 65-68 year round.
Best of luck
I’m local, but this is my first Austin half marathon so not much of insights about the course. Check out the course video; http://attaustinmarathon.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=63.
It looks like it could to be cold(by Texas standard) and wet on Sunday morning. The current forecast from the local TV station for Saturday are High in the low 40’s with 70% chance of rain. Hopefully the rain will taper off early Saturday so that the course will be dry by Sunday morning.
I know you can rent them at Bicycle Sport Shop. You may want to stop by Jack and Adam’s, as they may demo you one if you sweet talk them. They’re awesome at that shop and put on/support a lot of the tri’s in Austin.
I’m not certain about swimming… There are a few masters programs around (I’m in the UT one), but you can swim for sure at Barton Springs. It’s a big outdoor pool that’s ~66-68 degrees and it’s like 200 meters long or so… A lot of local triathletes swim there, but I’ve only done it a couple times, I usually swim here on campus.
I’m not running but I’ll be spectating and cheering on the GF. Have fun, Austin’s a great great town.
I’ve been to Austin a couple times and so was anticipating that hill on South Congress, but I didn’t realize it would last 3 miles! Also those rollers in the second half are lot more than I expected. I’m really glad I’ve been doing my regular and long runs on very hilly terrain.
So Barton Springs is open in the winter? I just may bring my wetsuit, that could be fun.
Those hills in the last 3 miles were BRUTAL! Great race, lots of enthusiastic spectators and volunteers. Hanson Brooks was there and it looks like Brian Sell took it in 1:04:11, Desiree in 1:18:17.
I had a great race and ran exactly as planned but forgot to put on my CHIP! GDMT! Oh well… I wouldn’t have gotten any hardware anyway 25-29M is pretty competitive.
For swimming, check out the Big Stacy Pool. It’s a 33m, outdoor, heated, free pool.
That was a great tip, thanks! Thats a really nice pool.